US2564266A - Collapsible pushcart - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 14, 1951 E. G. LINTON I 2,564,266

COLLAPSIBLE PUSH CART Filed Dec. e, 1946 ESheetS-Sheet 1 Aug. 14, 1951 E. G. LINTON 2,564,266

' COLLAPSIBLE PUSH CART Filed Dec s, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 14, 1951 E. G. LINTON 2,564,266

COLLAP'SIBLE PUSH CART Filed Dec. e, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 14, 1951 COLLAPSIBLE PUSHCART Ernest George Linton, Brighton, Victoria, Australia Application December 6, 1946, Serial No. 714,561

In Australia December 24, 1945 7 Claims.

This invention relates to push carts and like baby carriages of the type having retractable or foldable wheels and adjustable handles, for the purpose of reducing the size of compass for general convenience in handling and transportation.

Such push carts are preferred for simplicity in travelling on public conveyances and to comply withregulations or conditions permitting the use of the same for transport upon such conveyances.

I It has hitherto been proposed to provide a push cart of that general kind which, in the collapsed condition assumes the form of a case which contributes to the handling and transport of the push cart. However, the construction of the push cart mentioned lacks the provision for simply and conveniently collapsing the push cart to the desired case form.

It is considered that the ideal construction of push cart is one that is erectible and collapsible or foldable by the use of one hand whilst holding the infant with the other.

The production of this desirable form of push cart constitutes the principal object of this invention in which the opening for use and the folding or collapsing operation are conveniently fafor carrying or transportation and which is opened into a running position for use, the opening and closing being performed by manual operation of a handle whereby the push cart is also propelled in travel.

A further object is the provision of a back rest adjustable relatively to and movable with the propelling handle in the opening and closing movements of the latter, and comprising a member of the case in the closed position.

Another object is the provision of a push cart collapsible to comprise a case housing the wheels, propelling handle, and hood, and having connectible and relatively separable wall sections comprising the closure members of the case.

Yet another object is to provide a push cart collapsible to case form, and having two releasably connectible and relatively separable wall sections comprising the closure members of the case, one of the wall sections in the running position comprising a back rest and the other a foot rest.

The invention will be better understood from the following description of the practical arrangements of a collapsible push cart depicted in the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the collapsible push cart.

Fig. 2 is a slide elevation, partly in section, on the line 22 of Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the transportable case formed by collapsing the push cart shown by Flgs. 1 and 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional elevations on the planes 4-4 and 55 respectively of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional'detail of part of the propelling means of the push cart.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional elevations of a modified wheel extending and retracting means, showing the wheels in running and retracted arrangement respectively.

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation of a further modified wheel extending and retracting means, showing the wheels in running position.

In these drawings, the numeral It) indicates generally a frame or carriage body constructed of suitable sheet material of required gauge or thickness, and comprising a base ll, hollow side walls 12, and a transverse bracing member l3 and a rear end wall [4 rigidly interconnecting and maintaining the side walls [2 in fixed relationship.

The hollow side walls l2 are closed at the top by portions l2 a, while at the base the hollow walls are open but are provided with flaps or doors l5 hinged to the base II and provided with closing springs I5a..

In the closed case arrangement shown by Fig. 3, the base H and the flaps I5 are positioned 00-- extensively to form a side of the case, but in the running arrangement, see Fig. 2, the flaps l5 are open and dependent from the base ll.

At the forward end of the body l0, there is a hinged or drop down wall [6 which is supported by the side walls I2 upon co-axially aligned pivots l1 secured to the inner plates ill of the hollow side walls l'2.

The hinged wall H5 in the collapsed arrangement of the push cart lies between the hollow side walls [2 and together with the latter comprises the top or upper side of the closed case, and said hinged wall is provided with a handle IQ for carrying the case about, see Fig. 3.

In the running or open arrangement of the push cart, the hinged wall i6 is located in a substantially horizontal position, which is effected by angular displacement of the latter upon the co-axially aligned pivots IT in opening the push cart from case form to running arrangement. The hinged wall i6 is supported in the horizontal position by foldable stays pivotally connected to the side walls I2, to form a foot rest or support, and, ismforthis purpose provided with a suitable covering or lining 2!, see Fig. 2.

Positioned between the side walls l2 and normally supported upon the transverse bracingw member i3, is a seat 22 from opposite sides of which project brackets 23 carrying coaxially aligned pins 24 in engagement with upwardly ,extending guide slots 25 formed in supporting members 26 secured to the inner plates 18 of the side walls l2. The slots 25 are provided with, h0rizontally disposed extensions 21, and it will be apparent that the seat 22 may be raised to an upper position wherein it is supported by engage ment of the pins 24 with the guide slot extensions 21, see Fig. 2.

Located 'rearwardly of the seat 22 are upwardly extendingtubular lever arms 28 to whichare'secured; as byweldingsleeves 29 which'are rotatably supported vupon ,coaxially aligned spindles.

or journals 30;fixed to the-inner plates l8 of the h'ollow' side walls 12"and forming 'iulcra for the opposite lever arms 23, see Figs. 1 and 6.

In the tubular lever arms 28 are slidably fitted the opposite limbstl' of an inverted ur-shaped member 32; the upperyside or cross piece 33 of which comprises a-handle whereby the push cart is propel-l'ed'and-opened to. running arrangement Bil 3;:andg'5," is positioned between the side walls .12

andis'fiushi or level with the top vparts [2a ofv thelatterto Vtherebyjorm a sidevof the case 10- cated'oppositely to the side comprised of the base I! and flaps :5 as previously described her,ein.

The int i fionof thebackrest 36 comprises va receptacles-for oods or articlesand for this, pur-.

pose is provided with a flexible cover .or closure 3fia,.rtheledges .ofwhich are connectible by aslide fast nen b of.,, well known construction, .see

ig j The oppositely positioned lever arms 28 are dis-v posed in co.-pla'narv.sv parallel i arrangement and form aback rest frame, to which-the best .resti3fi is normally connected: by spring influenced catchesSS 'slidablyl mounted in brackets 39 fixed to ,theupper end. wall 40 of the backrest and engageable with apertured bosses 4| on. the lever arms 28, see particularly Fig. 8.

Upon engagement of the catches 38 "with the aperturedbosses 4! the back rest 35 is locked to and positioned in parallel relation with the back gstframecomprised of the lever arms 28, see

When the back restis thus secured to the lever arms 28, the former and the latter may be angularly moved as a unit upon the coaxiall aligned spindles or journals 39 which comprise the common pivotal axis of the back rest and the lever arms.

The releasable catches 33 at the inner ends are bent at right angles to extend through slots 42 in the wall and form oppositely movable finger grips 43 whereby the catches 38 may be disen a ed from the apertured. bosses 4 I .7

Uponrelease of the catches 38 the back rest 36 may be partially rotated upon the ooaxially aligned journals 30 into the position indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2, wherein the back rest is angularly related with the lever arms 28 and theslidably extendable handle supports 3| and is retained by links or arms 44 pivoted at 45 upon the arm 28 and connected to the back rest by slotted guides-45..

lt will be understood that by adjustment of the back rest 35 and of the seat 22 as previously described, the former and the latter may be adjustably disposed in angularly related positions to provide several sitting postures and positions of repose Torah-infant. 4

In order tvreleasethe springgpressed' catches i 34 to: enable 'the --extendable'limbs 3 I and handles 3 3 i to :be v colia'psed; there are provided push-rods} ilwhichareslidablymounted in the brackets -'39, see Fig.8;

Thepushrods '41 are maintained *bysprings-48 in contact-with an expanding wedge 49 carried by a stem 58 having thereon a hand grip 5| which uponbeing draWn upwardly-actuates the expand a ing wedge 49 "in opposition to'a return spring-52 to thrust the push rods outwardly fromthe-b'aok restfifi "and into contact with the springflpressed catches '3? 'which are'thereby released 'from the 1 apertures "35 to permitthe'limbsel and handle- 33 to be collapsed.v

In? the: closed arrangement," the back rest -36 andgthenhinged ,wall'. Ware engaged and releas ably connected by engagement ,ofaspring in fiuenced latch 53 on the hingedgwah l with -a-= slotted catclrf l 'on the back rest,v see "Fig; 5. The latch '53 ;is. formed with. an extension '55, which" projects through an aperture in thewalT'lSand comprises 1apress 'buttoniwhereby the latch 53* maybe disengaged'from the slotted "catch'to enable the push. cart to 'be opened from" caseform-'- to running arrangement.

The "lever; arms 28 are "prolonged below thejournalsor spindles 35," and'adjacently to their lower ends the former carrylaterally projecting= pins 55, see Figs." 1 and'6: The'pinstfi are securely fixed inplugstl in the "lever arms and project, through arcuate slots informed 'ini'the side walll'platesglfi-and radiused irom-the-axis or" the journals 35'.

The wheels"59"'and iiii'of the 'push'cart are an I ranged to collapse into the spaces between the inner wall plates I8 "and the 'outer"wall-;plates-' of the hollow side walls '12," and for this purpose the wheels' are arranged in pairs on'opposite'sidcs" of the pushicart, the wheels, 55 being in front or leading and the wheels 55 being at .the rear or trailing.

The wheels 59 and of each pair -are rotatable upon axles 'fil' carried "at 'the'ends ofarms 82' comprising the opposite limbs of U-shaped frame members 53 pivotally mounted upon' spindle'sfifi extending through the inner and --outer 'plates' of the hollowside walls, see Fig. 1.

The wheels 59 and 65 are extended from and retracted'into'the spaces within the-hollow walls 52 'by swinging movements of" the U-sh'aped" frame members '5 3- *upon the spindles SA-inre l qnse to angular movementsot-theleveP a'rms 28 upon the co-axially aligned journals 30 effected by manual manipulation of the handle 33.

For the purpose of providing an operative connection of the lever arms 28 with the pivoted members 63 carrying the Wheels 59 and 60, the pin 56 carried by each lever arm 28 is connected by a link 65 with an arm 66 of a three-armed lever 61 fulcrumed upon a, pivotal support 66 secured to the wall plate [8 through which the pin 56 extends, see Figs. 2 and 4.

A second arm 69 of the three-armed lever 61 is connected by a link 10 with the pivoted member 63 carrying the wheel 60 as previously described, while the third arm H of the threearmed lever is connected by a link 12 with an arm 13 of a bell crank lever M fulcrumed upon a pivot 15 secured to the wall plate IS. The other arm [6 of the bell crank lever I4 is connected by a link 11 with the pivoted member 53 carrying the leading wheel 59. l

A collapsible hood !8 is provided and is carried upon a foldable frame 19 secured at the upper end'by clamps 86 to the collapsible limbs 3|. and connected at the lower end by slides 8! to. guide rails 62 secured to lugs 83 integral with the lever arms 28.

The guide rails 82 are parallel with the lever arms, and it will be understood that the hood frame 19 will move with the opposite limbs 35 as the latter are extended from or collapsed within the lever arms 23, and that the slides 8i will traverse the guide rails 82 during the raising and lowering of the hood frame synchronously with the telescopical movements of the limbs 3|.

The hood 18 is maintained taut or stretched for use by foldable interlocking stays 84, which with the frame 19 and hood 18 are folded to lie closely together in the closed case arrangement, see Fig. 5.

Assuming the push cart to be in the case form as shown by Figs. 3 and 5, and that it be desired to convert it to the open or running arrangement, the user actua'tes the press button 55 and releases the latch 53 from the catch 54, thereby effecting disengagement of the hinged wall [6 from the back rest 36.

The back rest and hinged wall are then opened apart to give access to the handle 33 which is extended by sliding the limbs 3| outwardly in the lever arms 28 until the spring pressed catches 34 engages the apertures 35, thereby releasably securing the handle in fully extended position.

As the back rest 36 and hinged wall I6 are opened, the latter drops forwardly into its lower position, wherein it is supported horizontally by the stays to form a foot rest as previously described.

The handle 33 upon being extended, is drawn rearwardly to angularly displace the lever arms 28 and therewith the back rest 36 upon the coaxially aligned journals 36. Simultaneously, the angular displacement of the lever arms 28 traverses the pins 56 from the rearward end of the arcuate slots 58, see Fig. 4, to the forward end ,ofsaid slots, see Figs. 2 and 7.

The traversing motion of the pins 56, is by means of the links 65 transferred to the arms 66 of the three-armed levers 61 which are accordingly angularly moved upon the pivotal supports 68.

The angular movement of the levers 61 is transmitted by means of the arms 69 and links 10 to the pivoted frame members 63 carrying the rear wheels 66, which are accordingly displaced from the nested position Within the hollow walls I2,

see Fig. 4, to the running position shown by Fig. 2.

Simultaneously, the arms H of the levers 61 move the front wheels 59 from the nested to the running position by means of the links 12, bell crank-levers 14 and links 11 connected to the pivoted frame members 63 whereon the front wheels 59'are carried.

In being thrust from within thehollow walls the wheels 59 and 66 engage and open the hinged flaps l5 in opposition to the springs I 5a, and said fiapsare maintained open by the pivoted frame members 63 when the'wheels are located in the running position.

It Will be noticed that in the running position of the wheels, the links 10 and 71 are substantially in longitudinal alignment with the arms 69 and 16 respectively of the levers 61 and M, and that the links 65 are approximately radial to the journals 36.-

The linkage arrangement in the running position is centered and accordingly self looking, so that the wheels 59 and 60 are rigidly maintained in the running position and cannot be displaced therefrom by impact with obstructions encountered in travel. The wheels, accordingly, can be retracted within the hollow walls only by movement of the handle 33 and lever arms 28.

In order .to' prevent inadvertent displacement of the handle and lever arms, there are provided on the latter slidable safety latches which under influence of springs 86 become engaged with catches 81 secured to the side wall plates I8, as the pins 56 arrive at the forward ends of the arcuate slots 58 corresponding with the full extension of the wheels 59 and 60 into the running position. Y

Upon the completion of the conversion to the running arrangement, the frame 19 may be extended to expand the hood", and the seat 22 and back rest 36 may be adjusted to a required position as previously described herein.

To restore the push cart to case form, the seat 22 and the back rest 36, if displaced, are returned to their normal positions, i. e. upon the bracing member l3 and reconnected with the lever arms 28 respectively, and the hood 18 and hood frame 19 are folded to lie approximately parallel with said lever arms.

The hand grip 5| is then actuated to disconnect the spring-pressed catches 34 from the apertures 35 and set free the limbs 3|, which upon being thrust inwardly within the lever arms 28 contact with and disengage the latches 85 from the safety catches 81.

The disengagement of the latches 85 releases the lever arms 28, which upon being angularly adjusted in the forward direction traverse the pins 56 from the forward to the rearward ends of the slots 58 and through the links 65 and 12 actuate the levers 61 and I4 in the reverse direction to retract the wheels 59 and 60 within the walls l2.

As the wheels 59 and 60 recede within the hollow walls l2, the springs I501, maintain the flaps [5 in contact with the sides of the pivoted frames 63 and finally with the wheels until said wheels are within the walls, whereupon the flaps l5 close and conceal the wheels from view as shown by Fig. 3. I

Finally the hinged wall I6 is swung upwardly into engagement with the back rest 36, whereupon the latch 53 is reconnected with the catch 54 tocomplete the restoration to case arrangement.

In the practical arrangement above described,

7' the wheel extending linkage tisiconnected to the 1 propelling means at a point below'the pivotal axis of the lever arms 28 i. e. at the sideoi said axis remote from the handle'33, the leverrarmsfac cordingly being of the first order in leverclassiificati'on';

The propelling means mayfhowever, befar= ranged as a lever of the second order-for connection with said operation of the wheel extend ing' linkage; and 'moreover, the back rest may -it-' self comprise the wheel linkage operating lever.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, the back rest 38 is arranged as a lever of the second order-and is" pivotally connected at a'point between the pivotal axis 30 and the handle '33 to links 88, shaped'to form arm rests, which are connected 'to arms 89 secured to shafts 9D rotatably supported by the inner wall plates I8.

To the shaft 90 there is fixed a' -lev'er ilf hav ingequalarms- 92 which'by links 93 are connected td levers 94 "joinedby -li'nks '95 with the "frame arms lid carrying the wheels 59 "and 60.-

It will-be understood that by movement or the back rest 36 from the inclined position Fig.9,

to the"collapsed position Fig. 10, the armrest 25' links 88 will actuate the arms 89 to rotate the shaft- 99 and arms'92 to thereby operate the levers -94 and through thelinks 95*re'tract the wheels'59 and'6lls As shown'in Fig. IL-th'e frame arms 63 01. both wheels 59 "and 60 are connected by links 9B' and 91 to one andthe same bell crank lever 98 which is pivotally supported at '99 upon the inner side plate-I9 and connected by a link I00 to the'pin BG' 'carried by'th'e lever arm "ZB'and movable -'*by' the latter along the slot 58 in the manner pre-- viously' described."

As illustrated in Fig. 11, the wheels are shown inth'e runningposition,wherein the links 96, 9'!

are'substantiallycentered with the'pivotal axis- 1 fixed wall at "one end,'lateral housings and a bracing member comprising a seat support extending between 'the lateral housings, the base, the fixed endwall, said housings and the bracing member being secured together to comprise a rigid unitary structure, afoot rest at the other end of the carriage body pivotally supported upon and closable between the lateral wheel housings, pairsof wheelspivotally mounted-within the lateral houseings --for extension fromfand retraction within said housings/linkages interconnecting each pair of wheels, collapsible propelling means 'pivotally supported upon the wheel housings-, 'links con necting the collapsible propelling means with each pair ofwheels, a backrest connected and coaxially pivoted with I the collapsible propelling means,-a folclable hood carried by the collapsible propelling means, the wheels and foldable hood responsive to closing movement of the collapsible propelling means being retracted within-said housings and the 'foldable hood and=said propellihg means being disposed upon the seat support and said back restbeing'closed between said housings" and'releasably connected to the pivoted foot rest in the collapsed case form of" the push? cart-t:

2.- A pushtcart "as claimed in' claimil, having-2: catches ion the lateral. wheel housings and :re-:- leasable spring-influenced latches carriedbythe collapsible propelling means andi engageable' with the catches to retain said propelling meanm in the pushing position;

3.A push cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein the collapsible propelling means comprise Iouter? tubular members pivotally supported on: the -lat-:-- eral wheel housings, inner tubular members'slidi: ablyfitting within the outertubular membersfa cross piece comprising a handle integral'with the inner tubular members, and releasable'resilient' detent means maintaining the inner tubularmember extended and the handle in the-.propel-w ling position; and wherein the.foldablerhood 'ism carried by frames secured at the upper ends to the inner tubular members and 'slidably engagedfat the lower ends with guide rails fixed to and par-' allel with the outer tubular members.-

4. A push cart collapsible to' case form and comprising a carriage body having a base, a'fixed wall at one end and lateral wheel housingssaid 1 base, fixed end wall and housings being' rigidly; secured together, a movable foot rest at the other. end of the carriage body closable between the lat eral wheel housings, wheels mounted for extension from and retraction within said housings, a collapsible propelling handle supported onthei lateral wheel housngs and operatively connected with the wheels to extend and retract said wheels, a back rest operable by the propelling handle 'to' a closed position between theside walls for re-I- leasable connection with .the foot rest,. and

'spring-infiuenQed closures co-extensive with the base and opened by the wheels in being extended 1 from said housings to the running position.

5. A push cart collapsible to case form and comprising a. carriage body having a base, aifixed wall at 'oneend and lateral wheel housings, said base, fixed end wall and housings being rigidly secured together, a movable foot rest at the other" end of the carriage body closable between the lat eral Wheel housings, wheels mounted for exten sion from and retraction within said housings, a collapsible propelling handle supported on the lateral wheel housings and operatively connected with the wheels to extend and retract said'wheels, and a hollow back rest comprising a receptacle for articles operable by the propelling handle to a 5 closed position between the side walls for releasable connection with the foot rest.

6. A collapsible push cart comprising'a base, lateral wheel housings, a fixed rear wall section; a front wall section comprising a foot rest pivotally supported upon-the lateral wheel housings and closable between said housings, wheels pivotally mounted wi hin the housings, a'collapsible propelling handle pivotally supported 'upon the" lateral wheel housings and operatively connected with the pivotally mounted wheels to extend and retract said wheels from and within said housings, a side wall section comprising a back rest' coaxially pivoted with and adjustably connectible to the propelling handle for positioningpara'llel' with or 'angularly to the latter and movable in unison with said handle to a closedposition' between said housings, and releasable means 'forconnecting said front and rearv wall sections whereby the push cart is retained in case form for carrying or transportation.

'7. A push cart convertible from a completely closed case form to an open mobile carriage are"- rangement, comprising a carriage body, wheels connected tothe carriage bodyanduextendablei 10 from and retractible within the latter, manually UNITED STATES PATENTS actuatable means connected to the body and the Number Name Date wheels and operable for moving the latter to and 955,783 polgeman APR 19, 1910 from the running position and propelling the 1,011,776 Hamilton Dec 12, 1911 mobile carriage, an angularly movable part car- 5 1,021,964 Beasecker 2, 1912 ried by the manually actuatable means, and an 1,125,441 Bailey Jan 19, 1915 angularly movable part pivoted on the carriage 1,215,085 Wannenwetsch 6, 1917 bod and coactive with the angulary mova e part on the manually actuatable means to close FOREIGN PATENTS the carriage body and conceal said means within 10 Number Country t said body in the closed case arrangement. 3 7,532 France 4, 1941 ERNEST GEORGE LINTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 15 file of this patent:

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